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Plastic Nylon PA66 vs. Titanium

Compare Plastic Nylon PA66 vs. Titanium strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic Nylon PA66Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
TitaniumWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength85MPasourcetypical, dry885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed
Elongation at break30%sourcenominal strain at break, dry16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed
Young's modulus (stiffness)3GPasourcetypical, dry107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C
Density1,130kg/m³sourcetypical4,430kg/m³sourcenominal
Strength to weight75.2kN·m/kg200kN·m/kg2.66x higher
Stiffness to weight2.65MN·m/kg25.8MN·m/kg9.74x higher
Poisson's ratio0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements
Shear modulus1.07GPa42.7GPa39.8x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus5GPa121GPa
Speed of sound1,629m/s5,084m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed
Thermal expansion98µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing490µm growth45µm growth10.9x less
Specific heat1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.172mm²/s2.57mm²/s15x faster
Thermal shock resistance57.2W/m3,730W/m65.2x more resistant
Melting point260°CsourceDSC1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperature101°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature
Values forBASF Ultramid A3K (PA66, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods)TIMETAL 6-4 (Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5) annealed plate typical (TIMET properties manual) + TIMET datasheet TMC-0150 physical properties

Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Is Plastic Nylon PA66 stronger than Titanium?

Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 85 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA66 (10.4x).

Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon PA66 or Titanium?

Plastic Nylon PA66 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 4,430 kg/m³ for Titanium.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon PA66 or Titanium?

Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 115 GPa against 3 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA66, so the same part in Titanium deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon PA66 or Titanium?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA66 is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Titanium is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.

Part that must bePlastic Nylon PA66Titanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)9.74x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.58x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter16% heavier
Strong rod or tie2.66x heavierlighter
Strong beam22% heavierlighter
Strong panel or platelighter21% heavier

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which conducts heat better, Plastic Nylon PA66 or Titanium?

Titanium conducts heat better: 6.6 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.

Which expands less with temperature?

Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 98 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic Nylon PA66Titanium
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic Nylon PA66Titanium
Strength against density

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